Improvement in boots and shoes



J. M. 313mm BOOTS AND SHOES.

No. 189,333. Patente d April 10, 1877.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFIGEI.

JOHN M. BI'BBINS, OE WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOTS AND SHOES.-

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 189,338, dated April 1( 1877 application filed March 14, 1877.

said opening. It is my object to make the shoe so that when it is on the foot dirt and water will be effectually prevented from entering the said opening, while the lap will fold smoothly, and will fit perfectly around the ankle.

The manner in which I attain this result will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a shoe embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. I

The shoe, which has a front opening, a, is of ordinary or suitable construction, except in the particulars which I shall proceed to note.

To the outside of the vamp, along one edge of the opening a, is sewed the lap A, which forms a flap that covers the opening, and is secured by straps and buckles in the usual way. To the inner face of the lap, and along its outer edge, is stitched one side of the dirtexcluding gore B, which at its other side is stitched to the outside of the vamp along the edge of the opening at, opposite to that to which the lap is secured.

The parts A B may be in one piece, if desired; but I prefer the construction shown in the drawing, inasmuch as a more perfect fit can be obtained, and the lap will lie more snugly to the foot.

By sewing the lap and gore to the vamp and to each other, in the manner and position described and shown, dirt will be perfectly excluded, there being no danger that it will sift in at the seams, which would be the case were the lap and the lip attached to the inside instead of the outside of the vamp. Moreover, the lap, when the shoe is on the foot, can be drawn so as to fit snugly and smoothly around the ankle, the gore lying flat between the vamp and the lap, as indicated. The lap and gore, whether made in one or two pieces, may be made of a water-proof. material, which will effectually exclude water as well as dirt.

I do not claim a shoe with a lap covering the opening or slit in the vamp; nor do I claim the use of a dirt-excluding gore; nor do I claim a gore attached at one edge to the vamp and at the other edge to the outer edge of the lap.

What I claim as my invention is A shoe having a front opening closed by a lap attached atone side to the outside of the vamp along one edge of the opening, and a gore attached at one side to the outside of the vamp along the opposite edge of the opening,

the said lap and gore, when consisting of two separate pieces, being fastened together at their outer edges, by sewing the gore to the inner face of the lap, as shown and set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JNO. M. BIBBINS.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. WATSON, W. G. ELLIOT. 

